Vending machine lock with motor controlled slide-bar and hook mechanism and electronic access

• US 20060179900A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triteq Lock & Security LLC
• Original Assignee: Triteq Lock & Security LLC
• Inventors: Myers, Gary L., Denison, William D., Roatis, Calin V., Captarencu, Catalin, Paeth, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,876,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/77
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/26 Interlocks, e.g. for locking the doors of compartments other than that to be used
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1021 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1079 Gear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5093 For closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7113 Projected and retracted electrically

Abstract

An enhanced slide and hook locking mechanism control system for vending machines and the like that utilizes a reversible motor and worm gear drive that operates the slide and hook mechanism. The worm drive is coupled to the slide through a crankshaft type of interconnection. Or as alternatives, the slide means can be gear driven or it may be connected using push-pull type of cable or rod. An electronic control with a microcomputer interface drives the motor control and the system may be operated by a keypad or a remote wireless control device.

Claims

1. A locking system for vending machines and the like wherein a door is locked and unlocked to a cabinet, comprising in combination, a motor means carried either by the door or cabinet, said motor means rotatably connected to a sliding mechanical linkage means having locked and unlocked positions, and control means for driving said motor to slide said linkage means from the locked to the unlocked position.

2. A locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor means is driven to slide said linkage from the unlocked to the locked position.

3. A locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor is a two-direction reversible motor.

4. A locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locked position of said slide linkage is force resisting.

5. A locking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor means drives said mechanical slide linkage means through gear reduction means.

6. A locking system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said gear reduction means includes first reduction gears, and a second gear reduction means.

7. A locking system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second gear reduction means includes a worm gear and a helical gear.

8. A locking system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said helical gear is interfaced to at least 2 teeth of the worm gear.

9. A locking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said motor means includes an access control means.

10. A locking system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said access control means is remotely operable.

11. A locking system as claimed in claim 9, including an override means for energizing said motor independent of said motor control means and access control means.

12. A locking system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control means and motor are powered by a battery source.

13. A locking system as claimed in claim 9, wherein position switch means provides a lock trigger signal for energizing said motor to lock the slide linkage means.

14. A locking system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said access control means is operated by an access input means carried by the door or cabinet.

15. A locking system as claimed in claim 4, wherein sensing means is included for said motor to detect motor current and either reverse the motor direction or deenergize the motor upon reaching predetermined current levels.

16. A locking system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said access control means is operable only by input of a unique preset access code signal.

20. A locking system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control includes a battery saver sleep mode and an operational mode upon input of an access signal.

30. A locking system as claimed in claims 1, 17, 21 and 23, wherein said linkage means includes a plurality of latch means engagable for the lock and unlock positions.

31. A locking system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said latch means includes hook and slot type latches.

17. A method of unlocking a door to a cabinet wherein mechanical slide means is carried by either the door or cabinet and mechanical linkage means moves the slide means for unlocking the door with the cabinet comprising providing motor means with an electronic motor control to drive the mechanical linkage means between a force resisting locked position and an open position and powering said motor to drive the linkage thereby unlocking the slide means.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, including providing microcomputer means for directing operation of said electronic motor control and motor.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein access control means is provided including provision for operating said locking system external to the door and cabinet.

21. A locking system for vending machines and the like wherein a door is locked and unlocked to a cabinet on which the door is pivotally mounted, comprising in combination, a slide means carried either by the door or cabinet, mechanical linkage means for moving the slide means for unlocking the door from the cabinet, a motor means connected for driving the mechanical linkage means from force resisting locked position to open position, and a motor control for operating the motor to drive the mechanical linkage means to unlock the slide means between the door and cabinet.

22. A locking system as claim in claim 21, wherein said motor is further rotatably connected for driving the mechanical linkage from open position to force resisting locked position and said motor control operates the motor to drive the mechanical linkage means to lock the slide means between the door and cabinet.

27. A locking system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said slide means is a push-pull cable.

28. A locking system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said slide means is a push-pull rod.

29. A locking system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said mechanical linkage and slide means is gear driven.

33. A locking system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said rotational force means includes an access control means.

34. A locking system as claimed in claim 33, wherein said access control means is remotely operable.

35. A locking system as claimed in claim 33, including an override means for energizing said motor independent of said motor control means and access control means.

36. A locking system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the control means and motor are powered by a battery source.

37. A locking system as claimed in claim 33, wherein position switch means provides a lock trigger signal for energizing said motor to lock the slide linkage means.

23. A locking system for vending machines and the like wherein a door is locked and unlocked to a cabinet on which the door is pivotally mounted, comprising in combination, a slide means carried either by the door or cabinet, mechanical linkage means for moving the slide means for locking and unlocking the door with the cabinet, a motor means rotatably connected for driving the mechanical linkage means to force resisting locked position and open position, and an electronic motor control for operating the motor to drive the mechanical linkage means to lock and unlock the slide means between the door and cabinet.

24. A locking system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said motor is reversible and operable in two directions to move the slide means.

25. A locking system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said motor is reversible and operable in one direction to move the slide means.

26. A locking system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the electronic motor means includes a microcomputer for directing operation of said motor.

38. A locking system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said motor means includes an access control means.

39. A locking system as claimed in claim 38, wherein said access control means is remotely operable.

40. A locking system as claimed in claim 38, including an override means for energizing said motor independent of said motor control means and access control means.

41. A locking system as claimed in claim 38, wherein the control means and motor are powered by a battery source.

42. A locking system as claimed in claim 38, wherein position switch means provides a lock trigger signal for energizing said motor to lock the slide linkage means.

32. A method of unlocking a door to a cabinet comprising providing rotational force generating means carried by either the door or cabinet, connecting mechanical force conversion means to the rotational force generating means for converting the rotational force to a linear drive force, attaching the mechanical force conversion means to a latch mechanism operable to slideably move between a locked and unlocked position and controllably driving said sliding latch mechanism from said locked to the unlocked position.

48. A locking system as claimed in claim 32, wherein said rotational force means is a motor means and includes an access control means.

49. A locking system as claimed in claim 48, wherein said access control means is remotely operable.

50. A locking system as claimed in claim 48, including an override means for energizing said motor independent of said motor control means and access control means.

51. A locking system as claimed in claim 48, wherein the control means and motor are powered by a battery source.

52. A locking system as claimed in claim 48, wherein position switch means provides a lock trigger signal for energizing said motor to lock the slide linkage means.

43. A method of locking a door to a cabinet comprising providing rotational force generating means carried by either the door or cabinet, connecting mechanical force conversion means to the rotational force generating means for converting the rotational force to a linear drive force, attaching the mechanical force conversion means to a latch mechanism operable to slideably move between an unlocked and locked position and controllably driving said sliding latch mechanism from said unlocked to the locked position.

44. A locking system as claimed in claim 43, wherein said rotational force means is a motor means and includes an access control means.

45. A locking system as claimed in claim 44, wherein said access control means is remotely operable.

46. A locking system as claimed in claim 44, including an override means for energizing said motor independent of said motor control means and access control means.

47. A locking system as claimed in claim 44, wherein the control means and motor are powered by a battery source.